Les Kiss reveals key area of focus within Wallabies squad and credits ‘brave’ leader within the squad
Les Kiss reveals key area of focus within Wallabies squad and credits 'brave' leader within the squad
New Wallabies head coach Les Kiss has revealed the key area of focus within the squad and what captain Harry Wilson brings to those around him.
Kiss arrived at camp mere weeks ago, and will face his first challenge next weekend when his side face Japan at the Hanazono Rugby Stadium in the first of a two-match series.
Despite it being his first Test as Wallabies coach, Kiss knows the importance of the occasion. “The Test arena, it tests you; that’s what it’s about,” he told the press on Thursday.
“The bandwidth you have to work with is not like this in a Super Rugby game. You don’t have much room for error, and just making the moments that matter is the important thing.”
“I’m a rugby man now…”
Kiss arrived at the Wallabies from the Reds. He took over the Queensland-based team from Brad Thorn in 2024, but his first love certainly wasn’t rugby union. In fact, it was the infinitely more popular sport in Australia – rugby league.
Following his league playing career, Kiss ventured into coaching in the 15-man code, allowing him to experience the game in South Africa, England and Ireland. Now back in his homeland, Kiss has been assessing his side at the North Sydney Oval, a venue famous for its multi-sports use.
“I’m a rugby man now,” Kiss reflected. “I have been in rugby now longer than I’ve been in league, but it was nice to be there at the Oval and look at the fig tree and, you know, some memories come flooding back for sure.”
But with just over a week before his first Test, Kiss didn’t have too much time to reflect on fond memories. He’s been straight into work with the Wallabies players, implementing a new defensive strategy.
“What I did like about the experience there was with the boys; they have worked bloody hard, but also smart. We’re trying a few little things out. We’ve certainly had a focus on defence with a new voice in that area and that has really put in place a bedrock of where we are going with that and continue to grow what that means for us.
“But the most important thing for us is defence with a new voice. That will recalibrate the areas that Scott [McLeod] wants from the defence. The boys have already bought into the real key principles he has brought in. We want to make sure that we’re a connected defence, but be able to put pressure on at the right time.”
Admitting that his arrival just weeks ahead of his first game didn’t give him time to adjust all facets of the team, Kiss added: “We’ll tweak the other little things around the game in a gradual way.”
Harry Wilson and team dynamic
Charismatic captain Harry Wilson has retained the captaincy under Kiss after first acquiring it in 2024, and the new head coach is keen to give the 26-year-old the tools to succeed. “Harry and the boys are growing what their influence can be in every aspect of the program. In the end, the game is theirs. Those 80 minutes are theirs.
“We’re just working hard to make sure that the environment allows them to grow and flourish and be able to make the choices needed to make the 80 minutes work the best they can. So that support I’ve got from good, strong people has been invaluable in these last few days. I guess everyone’s feeling each other out a little bit. It’s not too much. There’s a lot of familiarity and a lot of things anyway.
“We’ve tried to be very specific about what we’re targeting and, you know, in terms of the technical and the tactical elements of the game, but there is also the cultural part of it as well and how this new dynamic of the group comes together is important. I’ve had wonderful support from all the staff and the leadership have been very, very deliberate about what they want and how they want to grow it, so it’s our job to help them get where they want to.”
There is clearly a positive environment growing within camp, but that is also something which needs to come from the leaders on the field. Speaking about Wilson, Kiss discussed his captaincy, saying: “Harry’s worn that badge with pride and passion. There’s also a deep understanding of what the game requires at any given time and the relationships he builds with the referee on the pitch. There are a lot of qualities that are coming through.
“There’s bravery in captaincy as well, and those elements are important, and Harry shows those qualities, and he knows how to lean on the other strong people around him, which is a quality. Sometimes in leadership, you can lose yourself and say, ‘I know everything. It’s my way or the highway’. He leans into the right people in the right way, and I think we’re pretty lucky to have someone like Harry to lead us.”